Welshman confident that Sir Bradley Wiggins can make a big contribution to
Team Sky’s efforts in the Tour of Flanders

Content: Welshman Geraint Thomas is delighted to be able to call upon the services of Sir Bradley Wiggins for the Tour of Flanders following the injury to Ian Stannard - Thomas says Wiggins is 'at least as strong'Photo: GETTY IMAGES

The 26-year-old, however, described Wiggins as “just as strong” and said the veteran rider’s experience could prove invaluable in the gruelling 259km race, which has been heavily criticised in recent years for changes to the course, with the infamous Koppenberg climb moved to just 45km from the finish this year.

“I think [Stannard] will be missed because he’s one of the strongest guys for the classics,” Thomas said.

“He was a key guy for us but Brad is just as strong, you know, positioning-wise and things. Whether he can be there when it matters we’ll soon see.

“As long as you’ve got a team-mate up the road you’ve always got that excuse to sit on. But they [Boonen, Sagan, Cancellara] know that as well so they’re going to race accordingly.”

Thomas said that he might need to attack spontaneously to catch his rivals out, as he did at E3 Harelbeke last week on the Kwaremont.

Wiggins’s main goal of the classics season comes at Paris-Roubaix, which he admitted in February was one of his targets for the year along with May’s Tour of California and making Team Sky’s Tour de France team.